...an award-nominated Irish blog on Irish history and Irish politics-from today and yesterday:all 32 Counties !Updated a number of times each week . (Mirror site here)

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"1169 And Counting is a wealth of information on our Republican past and present , and demonstrates how the Irish political landscape , like that of any nation, will never be a black and white issue..."

IRISH BLOG AWARDS 2017 - ooops! It seems that our entry application was "not completed in time to be considered.." (?) and, as such, we are not now in the running. But we wish all the best to the successful entrants and to the organisers, and we hope all goes well for them on the day!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

On a damp , dark, grey and drizzly Saturday afternoon in Dublin , hundreds of Irish Republicans , on-lookers , the curious ,tourists - and the Special Branch (Political Police)- all stood outside , around, on the traffic isle and across the road from the GPO , in O' Connell Street , for between sixty and ninty minutes , as Republican Sinn Féin Poblachtach held its Annual 'Eve Rally' , at which a 'state-of-play' address is given to the crowd.

Led by a Piper (from the Glens Of Antrim) , followed by representatives from Cumann na mBan and Na Fianna Éireann , those that had assembled at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square fell-in behind an RSF Colour Party and marched down O'Connell Street to the GPO , where a small stage and lectern had been assembled.The Chairperson , Andy Connolly , Dublin, welcomed those present and took a few minutes to explain to tourists and locals alike the reason why Irish Republicans continue to hold street rallies , to recruit , organise and 'steady' themselves - because of the on-going political situation in the North-East of this country, in part of which the British writ still holds and is being enforced ,financially ,politically and militarily , despite the impression giving by the 'establishment' and the media , that 'we have moved on from all that...' : Andy stated that before we can 'move on' , Westminster will have to 'move out'!

A Speaker representing the 'Southern Contingent' [!](Cork), Lita Ni Chathmhaoil , outlined some of the history behind the decades-old 'Eve Rally' , mentioning Cork Republicans who had risen-up to challenge Westminster over its interference in this country and assured those listening that Irish Republicans from Cork will be out in support of their Republican colleagues next year , when a British 'queen' is due to grace us with her presence (!) , a theme also used by the Speaker representing the 'Northern Contingent' (County Down , one of the six occupied Irish counties), Fergal Moore , who , to loud applause, gave a guarantee that, win or lose at the match on Sunday, Irish Republicans will 'win out' in the end when it comes to the 'match' between them and the British and pro-British forces ranged against them , as they have, amongst other attributes, historical rights , natural justice and sheer perseverance in their 'armoury'.

The Chairperson asked the Piper to play a Lament for the Dead , following which he outlined the political position of Republican Sinn Féin Poblachtach , thanked Cumann na mBan ,Na Fianna Éireann , the RSF Colour Party , the two Speakers and the crowd for standing their ground against both the bad weather and the Political Police (who were being their normal intrusive selves) and asked all those present to stand to attention as the Piper played the National Anthem , bringing proceedings to a close.We publish with this post six more photographs from today - please note that a full report and more photographs will be published in the October 2010 issue of 'SAOIRSE' , which goes to print on Wednesday the 6th of that month :

Finally - this blog offers it congratulations to all who took part today in, once again , visibly and vocally bringing Republicanism on to the streets of Dublin : 'Well Done' to Republican Sinn Féin Poblachtach for keeping the Flag flying!Thanks!Sharon.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

At Burton Hall , Niall Rush received a deep intra-muscular injection of a slow-acting tranquilliser. The drug involved is intended as a slow release , and normally lasts two to four weeks. He went once a month for this treatment.

On his way back from Burton Hall later that afternoon , he called into the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology in James Street to see Joe Claffey who was undergoing a drug test and, from there , he went back into town by bus. He had borrowed one pound from a friend in Iona Road that morning to cover the bus fare out to Burton Hall and back. He rejoined his Spanish friends in Bowe's Pub , arriving there shortly before Shay O' Brien, at 5.10pm.

All the usual people were not there on account of the time , and also because it was a Monday. Niall drank about three pints of Heineken with his friends and at 7pm he left to get a bus to the ICP Clinic in the grounds of James Street Hospital . That day he was going in to complete the second phase of a two-part test - it was three weeks earlier , in early May 1984, that Niall had gone in for the first phase.......(MORE LATER).

THE PETER BERRY PAPERS....... The Top Secret Memoirs of Ireland's Most Powerful Civil Servant : Dirty Tricks, Election '69/ Spying on a Unionist Politician/ Keeping the (State) Taoiseach informed/ The Garda Fallon Murder/ Advice to Jack Lynch- 'Fire the pair of them...'/ Vivion De Valera's advice to O'Malley/ Rumours of a Coup D'Etat/ The Internment Plot, November 1970/ Secret Meeting with William Craig.From 'MAGILL' magazine , June 1980.

The Berry Papers are of rare historical interest ; not alone do they reveal items of major interest but they convey vividly the inner-workings of government. They document the meeting with the (State) Taoiseach , Jack Lynch, at Mount Carmel nursing home on October 17th , 1969, where he was informed by Mr. Berry of Captain Kelly's promises of money to members of the IRA for purchase of arms in Baileboro , Cavan, on October 4th , 1969 - Mr Lynch has denied that he was informed (Mr Berry gave evidence of this meeting at a secret session of the (State) Committee of Public Accounts in February 1971 but the Committee did not call Jack Lynch as a witness to reply to this assertion).

The significance of this meeting is that it transpired that Jack Lynch was informed of the genesis of the arms plot , some six months before he has insisted was the first occassion he became aware of what was going on. Lynch made no attempt between October 17 , 1969 , and April 20 , 1970, either to investigate further the reports he was given or to intervene and have the affair brought to an end.

The Berry Papers also document the meeting of April 13th , 1970, where Jack Lynch was informed by Mr Berry , again, of Captain Kelly's activities and, this time, of the involvement of Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney in the arms importation. Lynch , again, took no action at this time.......(MORE LATER).

ANNUAL EVE OF ALL-IRELAND RALLY, SATURDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2010.

" One of the largest public rallies seen in Dublin for years was held by Sinn Féin at the GPO on the eve of the All-Ireland Football Final . Headed by a Colour Party and a pipe band , a parade of more than 2,000 people marched from Parnell Square through the main city thoroughfare as a protest against the continued unjust imprisonment of Irishmen without charge or trial . Contingents from all over the country took part and many carried banners and placards including groups from England and Scotland . In the Ulster section was a strong representation of the Derry supporters who thronged the capital city for the Final . One placard they carried asked - ' Why are Six-County Nationalists interned in the Curragh?' ....." (From 'An tÉireannach Aontaithe/The United Irishman' newspaper , November 1958)

The Annual Eve Of All-Ireland Rally will be held this year on Saturday 18th September : those attending are asked to assemble at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square at 1.45pm from where the parade will leave for the GPO .